GIFT  OF 


H  nt 


OVERHEAD  SERVICE. — Just  before  the  impact,  weight  still  on  right  foot 
See  page  21. 


TENNIS  FOR  GIRLS 

BY 

MIRIAM  HALL 


SAN  FRANCISCO 

A.  M.   ROBERTSON 

1914 


Copyright,  1914 
by  A.  M.  ROBERTSON 


TO  MARION  JONES  FARQUHAR 
FORMER        UNITED        STATES        NATIONAL 
CHAMPION  AND  ALWAYS  A  KEEN  STUDENT 
OF    THE    THEORY    OF    TENNIS,    GRATEFUL 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT  IS  MADE  FOR  MANY 
IDEAS  HERE  EXPRESSED.  ACKNOWLEDG- 
MENT IS  DUE  ALSO  TO  DR.  SUMNER  HARDY, 
PRESIDENT  OF  THE  PACIFIC  STATES  LAWN 
TENNIS  ASSOCIATION  AND  FORMER  PACIFIC 
COAST  CHAMPION;  ALSO,  TO  MAURICE  E. 
MCLOUGHLIN,  UNITED  STATES  NATIONAL 
CHAMPION  IN  SINGLES  AND  DOUBLES,  ALL 
OF  WHOM  HAVE  HELPED  AND  ENCOURAGED 
BY  FRIENDLY  CRITICISM  AND  SUGGESTION 


272354 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

How  TO  DRESS 8 

CHOICE  OF  RACQUET 9 

GRIP  FOR  FOREHAND 9 

GRIP  FOR  BACKHAND 10 

POSITIONS  ON  THE  COURT 13 

FORM 14 

SERVICE 

The  Straight  Overhead 20 

The  "Reverse"  Twist 22 

GROUND  STROKES 

The  Drop-stroke  or  Drive 25 

The  Chop 28 

The  Cut 32 

The  Lob 32 

The  Half- Volley 33 

VOLLEYS 

The  Low  Volley 34 

The  Smash 37 

RECEIVING  THE  SERVICE 38 

SINGLES 39 

GIRLS'  DOUBLES 44 

MIXED  DOUBLES 50 

TACTICS  AND  GENERALSHIP 52 

ETHICAL  AND  PRACTICAL  SUGGESTIONS  FOR 

MATCH  PLAY 57 


TENNIS  FOR  GIRLS 

The  following  suggestions  presuppose  a 
working  knowledge  of  the  rudiments  of 
Lawn  Tennis.  They  have  particularly  in 
view  the  Girl  aspirant  for  tennis  honors, 
and  are  largely  the  outcome  of  experiences 
in  coaching  the  game. 

Tennis  literature,  so  far  as  known,  has 
been  for  men,  and  is  often  found  ss£,  in 
various  ways,  to  be  practically  wrong  for 
girls.  It  is,  therefore,  hoped  that  this  work 
will  supply  a  long-felt  want,  and  find  a 
welcome  with  all  girl  tennis  players. 


HOW  TO  DRESS 

Clothing,  light  of  weight,  should  be 
worn,  enabling  one  to  move  freely.  There 
should  be  no  restriction  at  the  neck,  and  as 
little  as  possible  at  the  waist.  To  further 
this,  it  is  wise  to  substitute  for  the  corset, 
some  good  corded  waist,  or  a  boned  bras- 
siere, the  stockings  to  be  supported  from  the 
waist  or  shoulders.  The  use  of  the  round 
garter  is  worse  than  foolish—it  is  often 
dangerous,  leading  to  the  formation  of  var- 
icose veins.  The  sleeves  should  not  extend 
below  the  elbows  and  the  skirt  should  be 
wide  enough  to  permit  of  a  broad  lunge 
and  not  longer  than  five  inches  from  the 
ground.  The  best  shoe  is  of  soft  canvas 
with  a  flexible,  not  too  heavy,  rubber  sole. 
If  there  is  a  tendency  toward  fallen  arches, 
a  light-weight  leather  support  should  be 
worn  inside  the  tennis  shoe. 


CHOICE  OF  RACQUET 

The  girl  of  average  strength  and  develop- 
ment should  use  a  13^  ounce  racquet, 
having  a  handle  of  5)4  inches  in  circum- 
ference. The  min'mum  weight  should  be 
13  ounces;  if  the  hand  is  very  small,  a  5- 
inch  handle  is  suitable.  Get  a  good  rac- 
quet— one  that  will  cost  five  dollars,  or 
more.  Experiment  as  to  how  it  swings  in 
making  a  stroke,  to  judge  if  it  is  too  heavy 
or  too  light  in  the  head. 


GRIP  FOR  FOREHAND 

(Strokes  taken  on  the  Rig/if.) 

The  forehand  drive  is  an  indispensable 
feature  of  the  game,  and  many  young  play- 
ers find  it  very  difficult,  or  even  impossible, 
because  they  have  acquired  a  defective 
grip.  The  V.,  formed  by  the  thumb  and 
forefinger,  should  strike  the  line,  nearest 
the  palm,  made  by  the  junction  of  the  dark 


and  light  wood  of  the  racquet.  In  other 
words,  have  the  face  of  the  racquet  meet 
the  ball,  or  be  related  to  the  arm,  just  as 
the  palm  of  the  hand  would  be,  if  used 
to  hit  the  ball.  The  base  of  the  hand 
should  rest  on  the  leather,  but  the  end  of 
the  little  finger  should  be  about  one  inch 
further  up,  the  thumb  and  first  and  second 
fingers,  pointing  diagonally  toward  the 
racquet  head.  The  forefinger  should  never 
lie  straight  out  on  the  handle,  but  the  first 
and  second  fingers,  being  separated  from 
the  others,  act  as  a  prop  or  brace,  and  lend 
firmness  in  making  the  stroke. 


GRIP  FOR  BACKHAND 

(Strokes  taken  on  the  Left.) 

It  is  not  well  to  play  both  forehand  and 
backhand  strokes  with  the  same  grip. 
Almost  all  players  make  a  slight  change; 
this  is  not  difficult  to  learn,  and  soon  be- 
comes perfectly  mechanical.  The  thumb 
10 


THE  OVERHEAD  SERVICE. — Start  of  swing,  weight  on 
the  right  foot.  Dotted  line,  in  all  cases,  indicates  the 
course  of  tip  of  racket.  See  page  21. 


joint  should  be  shifted  to  rest  on  the  broad 
side  of  the  racquet,  and  it  is  well  to  let  the 
thumb  lie  along  the  handle,  rather  than 
wrapped  around  it.  The  thumb,  in  this 
grip,  acts  as  the  prop.  The  little  ringer 
should  lie  against  the  leather  for  its  entire 
length,  but  the  first  and  second  fingers  may 
be  slightly  separated,  which  gives  support 
to  the  upper  edge  of  the  racquet. 

POSITIONS  ON  THE  COURT 

One  should  never  assume  a  relaxed  atti- 
tude on  the  court.  While  waiting  for  the 
ball,  the  feet  should  be  apart,  the  knees 
slightly  flexed,  and  the  weight  firmly  on 
the  balls  of  the  feet. 

The  racquet  should  be  held  in  front  of 
the  body,  with  the  left  hand  supporting  it 
at  the  throat.  This  is  the  best  position  from 
which  to  start  all  strokes  ;  the  muscles  of 
the  right  wrist  are  spared  by  it,  the  change 
to  backhand  is  made  easier,  and  with  the 
racquet  carried  in  this  way  one  can  run 

13 


K 

y 

HI 


more  freely.  The  racquet  should  be  re- 
turned to  this  position  after  every  stroke, 
and  not  released,  until  the  time  for  the 
next  stroke  arrives,  when  the  left  hand 
starts  it  on  its  swing. 

The  position  of  the  player,  with  reference 
to  the  court,  is  a  matter  of  highest  impor- 
tance. The  place  for  volleying  is  two  or 
three  yards  from  the  net.  The  place  to 
stand  for  a  ground  stroke  is  at  the  base- 
line or  behind  it.  One  should  never  stand 
between  the  base  and  service  lines.  A  player 
has  to  go  there,  of  course,  to  return  the  ball, 
but  the  first  thought,  afterwards,  should  be 
to  go  forward  to  the  volleying-point,  or 
back,  where  the  ball  can  be  properly  taken 
off  the  ground ;  between  the  lines,  one  is  in 
danger,  and  rarely  in  position  for  any 
stroke. 

FORM 

The  best  results  come  from  good  form- 
that  is,  when  strokes  are  made  in  the  right 
way.  Some  players  appear  to  work  hard, 

14 


while  others  use  far  less  energy  and  get 
better  results.  Skilful  foot  work  is  one  of 
the  secrets.  One  should  know  with  which 
foot  to  lunge,  for  it  is  imperative  that 
weight  be  thrown  on  the  ball  at  the  moment 
of  impact.  Learn  how  to  get  into  the  best 
position,  and  time  a  run  so  that  a  lunge 
with  the  proper  foot  is  made  when  the 
ball  is  struck.  So  many  players  cover 
court  very  quickly,  and  then,  when  making 
the  stroke,  let  the  body  block  their  swing 
by  getting  too  close  to  the  ball.  A  given 
stroke  should  be  taken  as  nearly  as  possi- 
ble in  the  same  way,  each  time — with  the 
same  kind  of  swing  and  position  of  body. 

Momentum  of  the  racquet  has  much 
more  to  do  with  the  speed  of  the  ball  than 
mere  force.  The  racquet  should  be  carried 
back  slowly,  started  forward  a  little  faster, 
and  the  greatest  speed  reached  at  the  mo- 
ment of  impact. 

The  wrist  is  a  far  more  important  feature 
than  many  young  players  realize.  Notice 
the  final  snap  of  the  wrist  of  an  expert 

15 


throwing  a  baseball;  direction  and  added 
speed  are  the  results.  In  tennis,  the  wrist 
should  be  firm,  well  controlled  and  used  to 
give  final  crispness  to  the  stroke. 

Should  a  player  have  a  well  established 
and  accurate  stroke  which  is  individual, 
and  not  along  conventional  lines,  judg- 
ment must  be  used  as  to  its  warranting 
further  development.  A  tennis  coach,  or 
expert,  should  be  asked  to  pass  opinion  on 
its  form  and  effectiveness.  If  it  is  not 
absolutely  bad  form,  it  might  be  improved 
gradually,  but  if  it  is  really  bad,  it  should 
be  learned  over  again,  even  though  this 
may  mean  a  temporary  setback.  Perfect 
form  gives  much  leaway  for  individuality. 

When  the  racquet  strikes  the  ball  at  just 
the  right  place,  it  gives  a  clear  ring  quite 
different  from  the  sound  when  hit  too  near 
the  tip.  With  every  stroke  the  racquet 
should  pass  slightly  across  the  surface  of 
the  ball,  while  still  in  contact  with  it,  but 
at  the  moment  of  the  greatest  force — that 
is,  when  leaving  the  racquet,  the  ball  should 

16 


THE  OVERHEAD  SERVICE. — Moment  of  impact,  the 
weight  thrown  onto  the  left  foot.     See  page  21. 


be  exactly  in  the  center;  to  allow  for  this 
final  drag,  the  initial  contact  should  be  at 
a  point  nearer  the  throat. 

The  eye  should  be  kept  on  the  ball  from 
start  to  finish  of  the  stroke,  the  mind  made 
up,  beforehand,  where  the  ball  is  to  be 
placed,  and  what  kind  of  stroke  used,  and 
then  not  changed,  even  though  the  oppo- 
nent gives  indication  of  anticipating  it. 
The  racquet  should  be  allowed  its  full  swing 
after  hitting  the  ball,  and  then  dropped 
lightly  into  the  support  of  the  left  hand. 
Remember,  that  the  left  hand  has  more 
to  do  than  just  to  hold  balls  and  toss 
them;  it  supports  the  racquet  between 
strokes  and  starts  it  on  its  swing.  The 
principle  of  the  "follow- through"  of  golf 
strokes  applies  in  tennis  as  well,  and  is 
important  to  keep  in  mind. 

One  should  go  back  far  enough,  before 
starting  a  stroke,  to  be  able  to  come  for- 
ward again  when  striking  the  ball.  A  ball 
that  has  bounded  should  be  hit,  either  as  it 
poises  in  the  air  before  descending,  or  as 

19 


it  drops,  and  not  as  it  is  rising  from  the 
ground.    The  Half-Volley,  or  'Tick-Up, 
is  the  only  exception  to  this  rule. 

THE  SERVICE 

OVERHEAD    DELIVERY 

To  assist  in  bringing  more  wrist  and 
elbow  into  the  downward  pull,  some  players 
slightly  alter  the  grip  for  the  Service;  this 
is  perfectly  proper,  though  not  essential. 

Place  the  left  foot  a  little  behind  the 
base-line,  and,  as  a  general  rule,  near  the 
center  for  Singles,  and  at  the  junction  of 
the  base  and  single  court  lines,  for  Doubles. 
Experience,  however,  teaches  that  to  occa- 
sionally vary  this  position,  diversifies  the 
Service,  and  gives  the  adversary  less  oppor- 
tunity to  anticipate  the  angle  of  play.  The 
right  foot  should  be  about  two  feet  behind 
the  line  and  the  body  turned  at  an  angle  to 
the  court,  the  left  shoulder  being  the  nearer, 
so  that  the  Service  may  be  delivered  some- 

20 


what  over  the  left  shoulder.  The  weight 
is  on  the  right  foot  as  the  racquet  swings 
up  and  is  transferred  to  the  left  as  the  ball 
is  struck.  The  ball  should  be  tossed  to 
such  a  height  that,  as  it  poises  in  the  air 
just  before  descending,  the  racquet  will 
come  on  top  of  it  when  the  arm  is  fully 
extended.  Simultaneously,  the  racquet  is 
raised,  with  the  edge  nearest  the  thumb 
uppermost,  and  then  turned,  so  that  its 
face  is  coming  down  at  the  moment  of  im- 
pact. This  makes  the  racquet  head  de- 
scribe a  circle  without  any  unnecessary 
swing.  Remember,  that  it  is  important 
to  strike  the  ball  when  it  is  as  high  in  the 
air  as  possible,  the  elbow  being  well  up 
and  the  arm  practically  straight  when  the 
racquet  meets  the  ball.  At  the  same  time 
snap  the  wrist  quickly  downward. 

A  Service,  delivered  at  the  height  of  the 
shoulder  seems  easier  for  most  beginners. 
It  is  effective  because  the  ball  bounds  very 
little.  There  are  two  arguments  against 
it,  however,  viz. :  to  insure  placing  the 

21 


ball  in  court  one  must  stand  away  from 
the  center,  a  decided  handicap  in  Singles, 
because  too  much  court  is  exposed,  and 
further,  it  is  not  as  readily  varied  as  the 
straight  overhead  delivery. 


THE    REVERSE    TWIST 

To  serve  the  Reverse,  it  is  necessary  to 
change  the  grip,  so  that  the  racquet  may 
be  flat  as  it  meets  the  ball — the  V.  being 
shifted  toward  the  broad  side  of  the  handle. 
The  racquet  passes  in  front  of  the  face,  and 
across  the  ball  from  right  to  left,  which 
causes  the  ball  to  bound  toward  the  oppon- 
ent's backhand.  The  Reverse  is  a  very 
effective  Service,  and  should  be  developed. 

Men  follow  the  Service  up  to  the  net, 
but  this,  for  a  girl  is  not  advisable,  as  she 
cannot  serve  a  severe  enough  ball,  nor  is 
her  stride  sufficiently  long  and  free  to  carry 
her  to  the  volleying-point  in  time  to  take 
command.  In  a  match  game  this  play  is  also 
too  wearing  on  a  girl  to  be  worth  attempting. 

22 


FOREHAND  DRIVE,  taken  at  the  height  of  the  knee. 
The  swing  back  before  the  impact,  weight  on  the  right 
foot.  See  page  27. 


A  very  fast  Service  is  an  exertion,  and 
every  girl  must  decide  for  herself  how  much 
energy  she  can  afford  to  expend  on  it.  A 
deep,  well  placed  Serve  of  fair  speed  is 
almost  as  effective,  unless  one  intends  fol- 
lowing it  to  the  net.  The  most  important 
point  is,  to  get  the  first  Serve  in.  A 
"good  enough"  first  Service  that  strikes  in 
court  is  better  than  a  "wonder,"  now  and 
then.  The  second  Service  should  not  be 
too  great  a  contrast  in  speed;  should  be 
deep  in  the  court  and  usually  to  the  back- 
hand. 

GROUND  STROKES 

This  term  applies  to  a  ball  which  has 
bounded;  there  are  five  classes  of  Ground 
Strokes — the  Underhand  Drop-Stroke  or 
Drive,  the  Chop,  the  Cut,  the  Lob,  and 
the  Half-Volley. 

THE  DROP-STROKE   OR  DRIVE 

If  a  ball  is  taken  high,  a  more  aggressive 
stroke  can  be  made,  because  of  the  down- 

25 


ward  angle,  but  the  ball  does  not  always 
bound  sufficiently  to  play  it  overhand,  so 
an  Underhand  Drop- Stroke  or  Drive  is 
indispensable  to  one's  game.  When  taken 
on  the  Forehand,  the  weight  is  on  the  right 
foot  before  the  stroke,  and  a  good  lunge 
must  be  made  to  the  left  foot,  as  the  ball 
is  struck,  as  all  the  weight  possible  should 
be  put  onto  the  ball. 

Much  can  be  said  for  each  side  of  the 
question,  as  to  whether  it  is  better  to 
play  the  Forehand  Drive  when  the  ball  is 
at  the  waist-line,  or  at  the  height  of 
the  knee;  if  taken  at  the  waist-line,  the 
racquet  must  be  horizontal,  and  the  ball 
hit  at  arm's  length  at  the  side.  This 
method  requires  an  exceptionally  strong 
back  and  arm,  but  when  well  executed 
produces  a  very  swift,  fast  dropping  ball. 
One  should  learn  to  play  both  ways,  as 
there  are  times  when  it  is  of  great  value  to 
play  a  Drop-Stroke  on  a  ball  at  the  top  of 
its  bound.  When  inside  the  service  lines 
it  is  better  than  to  let  the  ball  drop  to  the 

26 


height  of  the  knee,  which  would  likely  re- 
sult in  its  going  out  or  into  the  net.  Also, 
when  one  wants  to  play  a  shallow  fast 
dropping  ball  for  the  purpose  of  passing  a 
volley er.  Used  in  these  ways,  the  stroke 
does  not  demand  a  long  carry,  and,  there- 
fore, takes  no  great  strength.  Balls  which 
do  not  bound  as  high  as  the  waist  or  are 
below  that  point,  when  the  player  reaches 
them,  should  be  allowed  to  drop  to  the 
height  of  the  knee.  The  ball  is  hit  nearer 
the  body  than  in  the  waist-line  stroke,  and 
in  front,  and  to  the  right  of  the  right  foot. 
The  arm  and  racquet  should  be  first 
extended,  full  length  behind  the  body, 
with  no  unnecessary  swing  in  transit. 
The  ball  is  then  met  with  a  diagonal  sweep 
upwards  and  across  the  body,  the  upper 
edge  of  the  racquet  leading,  the  stroke 
finishing  with  a  " follow- through"  over  the 
left  shoulder.  This  action  is  similar  to 
brushing  the  ball,  and  accompanied  by  a 
lunge  to  the  left  foot  imparts  a  spin 
which  keeps  the  ball  from  sailing  and 

27 


makes  it  drop   rapidly  after  passing  the 
net. 

The  Backhand  Drive  is  much  more  diffi- 
cult and  rather  exceptional.  Usually  in 
making  a  plain  underhand  return  on  the 
backhand,  the  ball  should  be  allowed  to 
drop  to  within  a  foot  of  the  ground  and 
then  struck  with  a  diagonal  sweep,  opposite 
in  its  direction,  from  the  forehand  Drive, 
finishing  with  a  "follow  through"  over  the 
right  shoulder.  A  lunge  should  be  made 
to  the  right  foot  that  will  bring  it  in  front 
of  the  left,  and  the  ball  is  taken  at  the  left 
of  the  right  foot.  Should  the  ball  strike  in 
a  line  to  the  side,  or  to  the  rear  of  the 
player,  the  back  is  almost  turned  to  the  net. 
One  should  also  learn  to  play  the  backhand 
at  different  heights. 


THE  CHOP 


This  stroke  is  a  sharp  downward  blow 
which  puts  a  great  deal  of  twist  onto 
the  ball;  it  derives  its  name  from  being 

28 


FOREHAND  DRIVE. — At  moment  of  impact,  just  before  the  "brush.'' 
eight  transferred  by  a  lunge  to  the  left  foot.     Note  jog  in  dotted  line 


Weigh.         , „ 

ndicating  "  crush";  also  note  position  of  ball  at  initial  point  of  contact 


Note  grip  for  Forehand.     See  page  27. 


somewhat  like  chopping  with  a  hatchet. 
When  taken  at  a  point  higher  than  the 
waist,  the  racquet  passes  diagonally  across 
the  ball  from  right  to  left;  the  racquet 
should  be  held  very  firmly  and  the  wrist 
snapped  to  give  final  crispness  to  the 
stroke. 

The  Chop  may  be  executed  also  when 
the  ball  is  at  the  height  of  the  waist;  the 
racquet  in  this  case  should  be  horizontal 
and  drawn  sharply  from  right  to  left 
across  the  ball,  starting  at  arm's  length  to 
the  side  and  a  little  in  front  of  the  body. 
Both  strokes  can  be  made  backhanded,  the 
latter,  at  the  waist-line  being  very  useful; 
it  is  made  by  a  horizontal  draw  of  the  rac- 
quet from  left  to  right  across  the  body. 
The  Chop  is  well  worth  playing  whenever 
the  ball  rises  to  a  sufficient  height;  it  is  an 
excellent  stroke  with  which  to  supplement 
the  Drive  but  must  not  in  any  way  be 
regarded  as  a  substitute  for  it  or  be  used 
when  the  ball  is  so  low  as  to  force  one  to 
crouch,  as  many  inexperienced  players  do. 

31 


THE    CUT 

A  Cut  differs  from  a  Chop  in  that  the 
racquet  passes  underneath  the  ball.  So 
severe  a  twist  can  be  given  by  this  stroke 
that  the  ball  will  bound  sharply  to  one  side 
on  striking  the  ground.  A  Cut,  however, 
takes  so  much  away  from  the  speed  of  a 
ball  that  it  seldoms  pays  in  a  deep  stroke. 


THE   LOB 

A  Lob  is  a  stroke  which  sends  the  ball 
into  the  air  and  requires  much  accuracy. 
Its  use  is  of  great  value  to  accomplish  three 
purposes — First:  to  force  a  volleyer  back; 
the  Lob  in  this  case  may  be  rather  low  if 
the  opponent  be  close  to  the  net,  but  should 
always  be  sent  to  the  base-line,  and  toward 
the  backhand  if  possible.  Second :  to  give 
time  to  regain  position  when  one  is  hard 
pressed.  Third:  to  afford  opportunity  of 
recovering  one's  breath.  To  obtain  the 
two  latter  results,  the  Lob  should  be  both 

32 


high  and  deep;  it  allows  the  player  to  re- 
cover and  gives  time  to  go  up  to  the  net; 
the  Lob,  by  being  high,  drops  faster  and 
straighter  and  for  this  reason  is  more  diffi- 
cult for  the  opponent  to  handle. 

The  Lob  should  be  placed  as  carefully 
as  any  stroke,  for  the  direction  in  which 
it  comes  to  a  player  makes  a  great  deal 
of  difference  in  the  matter  of  its  control. 

It  should  be  taken  forehanded  when 
possible  and  in  front  of  the  body.  Strike 
quietly  and  with  confidence,  as  if  the 
stroke  were  sort  of  a  push  and  "follow- 
through"  with  the  racquet.  In  Doubles,  a 
good  Lob  is  a  point  winner,  often  saving 
the  rally. 

THE   HALF-VOLLEY 

This  is  solely  an  emergency  stroke  and 
is  very  difficult  to  place;  it  is  used  only 
when  one  has  not  time  to  get  into  position 
to  take  the  ball  as  it  returns  from  its  bound, 
and  is  made  by  striking  the  ball  just  as  it 
leaves  the  ground.  The  stroke  requires  an 

33 


accurate  eye  and  must  be  timed  exactly 
right;  it  is  a  pretty  play  but  should  be 
used  only  when  no  other  stroke  is  possible. 

VOLLEYS 

The  term  Volley  is  applied  to  the  play- 
ing of  a  ball  which  has  not  bounded ;  there 
are  two  classes — the  Low  Volley,  and 
what  is  commonly  known  as  the  Smash. 
The  volleying-point  is  two  or  three  yards 
from  the  net. 


THE    LOW   VOLLEY 

This  is  made  by  a  slight  straightening 
and  stiffening  of  the  elbow,  the  wrist  being 
held  rigid  until  the  last  moment,  when  it 
is  bent  sharply  forward  to  give  crispness 
to  the  stroke.  There  is  very  little  swing 
beforehand  and  it  is  advisable  to  shorten 
the  hold  on  the  racquet.  As  there  is  not 
time  here  to  change  the  grip  from  forehand 
to  backhand,  such  position  on  the  handle 

34 


FOREHAND  DRIVE,  finishing  with  a  "follow-through 
over  the  left  shoulder.     &r  page  27. 


must  be  found  as  will  enable  one  to  play 
either  way.  The  V.,  made  by  the  thumb 
and  forefinger,  should  lie  on  the  broad  side 
of  the  handle,  and  the  thumb  and  fingers 
are  wrapped  tightly  around  it,  lying  close 
together.  The  racquet  should  be  hori- 
zontal and  the  stroke  directed  downward; 
if  the  ball  comes  low,  one  must  stoop  for 
it,  as  the  volley  should  never  be  taken 
underhanded  when  it  can  possibly  be 
avoided.  The  feet  should  be  apart,  knees 
slightly  flexed,  and  the  body  alert;  this  is 
the  only  stroke,  except  the  Service,  where 
a  lunge  is  not  absolutely  necessary.  It  is 
easier  to  Low  Volley  on  the  backhand  than 
forehand,  on  account  of  the  natural  posi- 
tion of  the  racquet  across  the  body;  if  a 
ball  comes  directly  in  front  of  one,  a  step 
to  the  side  should  be  taken,  to  play  it. 


THE   SMASH 


The  volley  of  a  dropping  ball  overhead, 
is  called  a  Smash.     The  principles  of  the 


37 


Service  may  be  followed,  except  that  the 
racquet  must  come  more  on  top  of  the  ball, 
because  the  player  is  nearer  the  net.  In 
backing  up  to  smash,  the  eye  should  be 
kept  on  the  ball,  the  racquet  held  across 
the  chest  and  not  released  by  the  left 
hand  until  time  for  the  stroke.  Go  back 
farther  than  necessary  in  order  to  take  a 
step  forward  when  hitting  the  ball.  If  a 
Lob  is  so  short  as  to  drop  very  close  to  the 
net,  it  is  better  to  play  it  on  the  bound  to 
avoid  the  danger  of  touching  the  net 
which  would  forfeit  the  point. 


RECEIVING  THE  SERVICE 

The  exact  position  at  which  to  receive 
depends  upon  the  opponent's  Service  and 
the  kind  of  ground,  i.  e.,  cement,  clay  or 
grass.  Many  Serves  that  seem  almost  im- 
possible to  take,  are  not  so  hard  if  one 
stands  far  enough  back.  This  is  a  some- 
what different  problem  from  the  man's 
game,  where  the  opponents  are  fighting 

38 


every  instant  for  the  net  position.  In 
most  cases  one  should  stand  almost  at  the 
base-line  and  at  an  angle  in  reference  to 
the  position  of  the  Server  which  seems 
best  to  guard  the  court. 

Plan  to  drive  the  first  Service,  but  on  the 
second,  a  few  steps  forward  may  be  taken 
and  the  Chop  stroke  used  if  desired. 

This  first  return  must  be  as  deep  and 
aggressive  as  possible  and  judgment  used 
as  to  whether  is  should  be  followed  to  the 
net. 


SINGLES 

In  general,  the  back-court  game  is  the 
defensive  method  and  volleying  at  the  net 
the  aggressive  attack.  The  best  game 
consists  in  steady  and  accurate  back-court 
play  until  such  a  shot  is  made,  as  puts  the 
opponent  on  the  defensive ;  then  one  should 
go  quickly  to  the  volleying-point  and  hold 
that  position  as  long  as  possible.  The 
center  behind  the  base-line  is  the  best 

39 


place  to  cover  the  court  if  the  player  is  on 
the  defensive. 

When  opposite  a  persistent  base-line 
player,  a  good  plan  is  to  force  her  up  by  a 
short  Chop,  following  this  by  a  Lob  or  a 
deep  Drive.  A  stroke  generally  has  a 
natural  answer;  therefore,  a  gamble,  which 
is  often  worth  taking,  is  to  go  to  the  place 
where,  in  one's  judgment,  the  ball  will  drop. 
The  safest  answer  to  a  cross-court  shot  is 
to  place  the  return  straight  down  the  side- 
line. It  is  often  well  to  drive  a  ball  down 
the  middle,  when  following  to  the  net,  as 
it  is  harder  for  the  opponent  to  pass  one 
from  the  middle  than  from  either  side. 
Of  course,  if  a  player  can  land  a  Drive  so 
close  to  either  side-line  as  to  put  her 
opponent  decidedly  on  the  defensive,  so 
much  the  better.  Learn  to  drive  when 
running  fast,  as  a  very  aggressive  return  is 
sometimes  a  good  play  when  one  has  been 
hard  pressed  and  forced  out  of  court;  it  is 
rather  risky,  the  Lob  being  preferred,  but 
if  an  ace  is  scored  by  it  the  moral  effect  on 

40 


BACKHAND  DRIVE. — Moment  of  impact,  weight  nav- 
ing  been  transferred  from  the  left  foot  by  a  lunge  to  the 
right  foot.  Note  grip  for  Backhand.  See  page  28. 


the  opponent  is  worth  while,  as  it  is  most 
discouraging  after  she  has  landed  a  good 
shot.  If  drawn  forward  to  the  net  to  save 
a  very  short  ball,  it  is  better  to  stay  up 
even  if  the  return  has  been  weak,  rather 
than  risk  being  caught  midway.  To  make 
a  "Get",  that  is,  when  one  is  barely  able 
to  reach  the  ball,  thrust  the  racquet  under 
it  without  any  preliminary  swing. 


43 


GIRLS'  DOUBLES 

The  formation  for  Girls'  Doubles  de- 
pends on  the  ability  of  the  partners  to  volley. 
The  ideal  double  game,  the  one  which  men 
generally  play,  is  to  have  both  partners 
always  abreast,  either  back  or  at  the  net. 
Fortunately,  the  tiresome  game  of  four 
girls  playing  from  the  base-line  has  practi- 
cally disappeared,  as  girls  are  fast  learning 
to  hold  their  own  at  the  net.  When  both 
partners  are  very  clever  volleyers  and 
are  able  to  back  up  successfully  for  the 
Lobs,  the  side-by-side  formation  may  be 
used,  but  experience  has  proved  that  it  is 
the  exception  when  two  girls  volley  well 
enough  to  make  this  a  winning  game. 
The  best  formation  for  average  Girls' 
Doubles  is  with  one  forward  and  one  back. 
If  the  girl  at  the  base-line  is  steady  and 
has  a  good  head,  she  can  work  the  rally 
so  that  the  opponents  cannot  find  the 
"hole"  in  the  formation  and  she  can  give 
her  partner  many  chances  to  kill.  The 

44 


volleyer  may  apparently  make  the  points, 
but  the  generalship  is  at  the  base-line, 
where  a  clear  brain  and  experience  are 
necessary. 

The  volleyer  may  back  up  for  a  short 
Lob,  but  should  let  a  deep  one  pass  over 
her  head,  and  then  immediately  go  to  the 
other  court  to  save  her  partner,  who  has 
crossed  over  for  the  Lob,  from  re-crossing. 
The  net  player  may  poach  on  her  partner 
to  kill  on  the  volley,  but  never  to  save  a 
ball  on  the  bound,  as  her  partner  is  in 
better  position  for  it.  When  the  net  player 
poaches  to  kill,  she  may  continue  all  the 
way  across  and  stop  there,  or  jump  back 
to  her  own  side  as  seems  advisable,  or  as 
momentum  makes  easier.  She  must  never 
hesitate  in  the  middle,  as  the  partner  at 
the  base-line  cannot  cover  both  alleys  at 
once  and  even  a  second's  loss  of  time 
means  a  tangle  of  position.  The  girl  in  the 
back  must  be  on  tip- toe  to  fill  in  every- 
where, as  if  she  were  playing  Singles. 

Often  the  net  player  makes  a  lunge  as  if 

45 


to  poach  for  a  kill,  or  perhaps  backs  up  to 
smash;  she  then  finds  that  it  is  too  far  to 
be  worth  while  and  lets  the  ball  go  through 
to  her  partner,  who  should  be  prepared  to 
play  everything  until  the  one  at  the  net 
has  actually  hit  the  ball.  This  leaves  the 
volleyer  freer  to  start  a  try  on  the  chance 
of  reaching,  and  enables  her  to  stay  close 
to  the  net,  thereby  getting  many  chances 
to  kill,  because  if  she  cannot  reach  a  ball, 
she  is  "backed  up"  and  the  rally  saved. 

The  volleyer  may  take  her  position  at  the 
net  while  her  partner  is  serving,  but  when 
the  volleyer  is  serving  the  partner  should 
remain  at  the  base-line,  and  the  volleyer 
find  her  net  position  as  soon  as  possible. 
When  receiving,  both  should  stay  at  the 
base-line  until  an  advantage  is  gained  over 
the  opponents,  either  by  a  successful  Lob 
or  deep  cross-court  shot,  when  the  volleyer 
should  go  immediately  to  the  net.  The 
base-line  player  should  always  try  to  direct 
the  ball  to  the  opponent  who  is  in  front  of 
her  partner,  as  the  return  is  easier  to  kill 

46 


BACKHAND  DRIVE,  finishing- with  a  "follow-through 
over  the  right  shoulder.     See  page  28. 


from  that  angle;  also  it  is  harder  at  that 
angle  for  the  opponents  to  send  a  stroke 
which  is  running  away  from  the  base-line 
player.  This  idea  is  most  important  for 
the  girl  in  the  back  to  keep  in  mind. 

To  illustrate — when  the  ball  is  not  sent 
to  the  player  in  front  of  the  volleyer. 

fr         A 


"A"  sends  the  ball  to  "C,"  in- 
stead of  to  "D";  "C"  takes  ad- 
vantage of  the  "hole"  behind  "B," 
and  not  only  passes  her,  but  drives 
at  an  angle  which  makes  the  ball 
run  away  from  "A." 


B 


N 


Showing  the  only  possible  strokes    . 
when  the  ball  is  kept  in  front  of  the  / 
net  player — i.  e.,  a  Lob  over  the  | 
volleyer;    a  Drive  to  the  volleyer  I 
or  her   alley;    a   cross-court   shot  \ 
toward  the  base-line  player. 


\ 


49 


MIXED  DOUBLES 

This  game  may  be  played  like  Men's 
Doubles  if  the  girl  is  exceptional  at  the 
net,  but  generally,  the  most  successful 
formation  is  that  indicated  for  Girls' 
Doubles,  when  the  man  should  keep  to  the 
net  as  much  as  possible  and  poach  to  kill 
on  the  volley  at  every  opportunity.  To 
do  her  share  at  the  base-line,  the  girl  must 
be  able  to  cover  court  very  quickly,  have 
an  accurate  and  deep  Lob  and  a  sure  first 
Service.  If  the  first  Service  is  sure,  the 
man  will  have  many  chances  to  kill,  while 
the  slower  pace  of  the  second  places  him 
on  the  defensive.  He  should  follow  to  the 
net  on  his  service  and  be  the  constant 
aggressor. 

Before  the  game  there  should  be  an 
understanding  in  regard  to  such  plays  as 
the  following:  Should  the  man  decide  to 
cross  to  cut  off  a  short  return,  the  girl 
must  cover  his  court.  Should  a  Lob  be  so 
deep  as  to  force  the  man  from  his  net 

50 


position,  he  should  let  it  pass  over  his  head 
and  cross,  the  girl  covering  his  court. 


DOUBTFUL   BALLS 

In  the  double  game  balls  often  strike 
near  the  center  of  the  court,  and  good 
team  work  calls  for  an  agreement  in  regard 
to  them.  The  safest  plan  is  for  one  to  call 
quickly  and  distinctly,  "Mine!"  or 
" Yours!"  In  general,  if  one  player  is 
stronger  than  the  other,  the  stronger  should 
take  the  initiative  on  doubtful  balls.  If 
both  are  in  the  back-court,  and  a  ball  is 
easily  within  the  range  of  either,  the  one 
who  played  the  preceding  ball  should  take 
it.  It  is  well  for  the  back-court  player  to 
take  most  of  the  doubtful  balls  as  the  vol- 
leyer  will  be  able  to  get  to  the  net  under 
cover  of  her  partner's  stroke.  A  cross- 
court  shot  is  better  taken  by  the  player 
toward  whom  it  is  traveling,  even  though 
it  has  struck  unmistakably  in  the  other's 
court. 

51 


TACTICS  AND  GENERALSHIP 


Strategy  is  a  valuable  point  winner;  de- 
ductions frequently  can  be  made  from 
the  opponent's  manner  of  play — a  glance 
of  the  eye,  or  style  of  swing,  often  indicat- 
ing the  direction  of  the  ball  and  the  kind 
of  bound  it  will  have.  One  should  take 
advantage  of  this,  but  in  turn,  guard  as 
much  as  possible  from  giving  such  indica- 
tions to  the  adversary.  Study  the  char- 
acteristics of  the  opponent's  game,  noticing 
weak  points  in  order  to  take  advantage  of 
them.  The  conditions  of  the  wind  and  sun 
should  be  considered,  and  the  game  played 
accordingly.  In  the  wind  use  low  strokes ; 
if  the  sun  is  in  the  opponent's  eyes,  a  lob- 
bing game  is  often  effective. 

A  fine  general  can,  by  watching  an  op- 
ponent, put  her  off  her  stroke  by  deliver- 
ing a  ball  in  the  way  she  seems  to  dislike  to 
receive  it,  quite  as  much  as  by  placing  it 
out  of  her  reach.  Discover  whether  she 
likes  to  play  her  drive  high  or  low,  and 

52 


RECEIVING  THE  SERVICE. — See  page  38. 


whether  she  can  manage  her  backhand  on 
a  high  bounding  ball.  If  she  stands  back 
very  far  to  receive  the  first  Service,  sur- 
prise her  occasionally  by  sending  a  slow 
shallow  ball;  also,  if  she  comes  up  close 
on  your  second  Service,  send  one  as  fast  as 
the  first,  even  at  the  risk  of  a  Double-fault. 
If  she  stands  far  to  her  left,  ostensibly  to 
protect  her  backhand,  play  to  her  extreme 
right  and  then  to  her  weak  spot,  the  back- 
hand. 

Have  up  your  sleeve  constantly,  the 
foil  of  alternatives.  Against  a  volleyer,  a 
much  poorer  Lob  and  a  much  poorer  Drive 
will  suffice,  if  intelligently  alternated,  be- 
cause to  return  the  one  puts  the  player  in 
a  disadvantageous  position  for  returning 
the  other.  This  method  of  attack  makes  it 
dangerous  for  both  partners  to  be  at  the 
net  in  Girls'  or  Mixed  Doubles.  If  there 
is  no  one  to  help  defend  the  deep  Lobs,  a 
girl  is  continually  driven  back  so  that  a 
good  Chop  or  Drive  can  be  easily  sent 
to  her  feet  on  the  next  stroke,  and  she 


loses  the  real  value  of  the  net  position. 
This  is  particularly  noticeable  in  Mixed 
Doubles,  as  the  girl  will  be  given  most  of 
the  balls  and  the  man  cannot  poach  if  she 
is  at  the  net.  If  he  tries  to  save  her  Lobs, 
they  both  get  in  a  mix-up  and  he  will  not 
have  nearly  as  many  chances  to  kill,  be- 
cause of  having  to  leave  the  ideal  scoring 
position.  Of  course,  it  is  interesting  to  try 
the  side-by-side  formation  in  practice 
games  but  it  is  against  good  judgment  if 
the  winning  of  a  match  is  the  prime  object. 


ETHICAL  AND  PRACTICAL  SUG- 
GESTIONS FOR  MATCH  PLAY 

Have  a  preliminary  rally  with  some 
friend,  not  the  opponent,  and  let  accuracy 
be  the  feature  of  it  rather  than  speed. 

Meet  the  Referee,  and  when  the  match 
is  over,  let  the  first  word  be  to  the  adver- 
sary and  the  next  an  expression  of  appre- 
ciation to  the  Referee,  as  that  office  is  a 
difficult  and  generally  thankless  one. 

Know  the  rules  and  be  prepared  for 
such  an  one  as  the  Foot-fault  rule. 

Do  not  make  any  motion  toward  return- 
ing a  Serve  if  not  ready,  and  refrain  from 
wasting  energy  by  blocking  the  faults. 

There  are  bound  to  be  decisions  which 
appear  wrong;  expect  this,  and  be  un- 
ruffled, knowing  that  such  matters  almost 
always  even  up. 

Make  no  comment  in  regard  to  decis- 
ions; if  appealed  to,  refer  all  questions  to 
the  Referee. 

In  Doubles,  one  should  consider  the  fact 

57 


that  the  attitude  of  one  partner  toward  the 
other  has  much  to  do  with  success.  Faith 
and  encouragement  will  lead  to  good  re- 
sults, while  doubt  and  criticism  may  lead 
to  failure.  Remember,  that  in  the  face  of 
impending  defeat  more  games  are  lost 
through  the  persistent  nagging  of  the 
better  partner  than  by  the  poor  playing 
of  the  weaker  one ;  victory  is  often  wrested 
from  defeat  by  a  sympathetic  understand- 
ing between  the  partners.  It  is  exceed- 
ingly poor  taste  for  a  player  to  lay  the 
blame  for  defeat  upon  her  partner. 

As  a  last  word — be  a  modest,  gracious 
winner  and  a  generous  loser;  this  is  true 
sportsmanship. 


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